This Reds non-roster invitee brings a skill the team hasn't had since Billy Hamilton

The Cincinnati Reds have been struggling to add consistent speed and hitting to their roster. Could non-roster invitee Allen Córdoba be that guy? The 26-year old was signed to minor league contract during the offseason.

The best attribute in Córdoba's arsenal is his speed. Last season, the Reds where ranked dead-last in the league in stolen bases with 36. Base runners were gunned down by opposing catchers 22 times, whish was good enough for12th in the league. The Reds were also bottom of the pack (27th) in triples last season.

Reds' NRI Allen Córdoba could be a sneaky good utility player.

With the loss of talent (Tucker Barnhart, Michael Lorenzen, and Wade Miley) early in the offseason and teams scrambling last minute to make additions before the MLB lockout, adding Córdoba was an interesting signing. The former Padre has played one year in majors and he struggled in his lone major league season.

The Panama native appeared in 100 games in 2017. During that year Córdoba hit .208 with four home runs, two doubles, two triples, and 15 RBIs. Unfortunately, Cordoba's OPS of .579 is a bit uninspiring as was his wRC+ of just 55.

Since those 100 games he spent with the Padres in 2017, Córdoba has been in the minors. Last season, Córdoba made the Minor League All-Star team in Double-A where he hit .299 with five home runs and 38 RBIs. He also collected 20 doubles, one triple, and six stolen bases.

Allen Córdoba's best season came in 2019 where had an impressive 32 stolen bases and a .301 batting average. He also recorded five round trippers and drove in 43 runs while. Add to that a wRC+ of 118 and 20 two-baggers, and Córdoba has the makings of solid rotational outfielder.

Córdoba is also a solid fielder with a career-fielding percentage of .933. All of Córdoba's starts last season came at both first and third base, though he spent the majority of his major season in the outfield.

The thing that excites me most about Allen Córdoba is that he has a solid swing and possesses the speed to be a difference maker on the base paths. I think with some help from Cincinnati Reds hitting coach Alan Zinter, Córdoba he could really be a productive utility player.